Travel News: Record Number of Tourists Visited Canada in 2018, Aomori One of The Snowiest Cities, and more!

Last year was a record-breaking year for Canada in terms of tourism, as our country saw more than 21 million international arrivals in 2018. Many of these new visitors came from China, France and Mexico. The reasons behind the growth include new flight routes being added and changes to visas. There have been several new visa application centres opening in China, so that can account for the rise of Chinese visitors. The UK maintains its position as the largest group of tourists in Canada. Interestingly enough, while Canada is receiving more tourists, we actually travelled less in 2018 than previous years.

Due to its location on the coast in northern Japan, Aomori is considered the country’s snowiest city! This extreme weather is caused by Siberian winds sweeping through in the late fall, crossing the warm waters of the coast. This causes precipitation in the form of snow. The city gets so much snow, many people cannot use their back doors and windows, as everything is buried. Rather than closing down, Aomori leans into the weather and attracts visitors to ski and enjoy the flurry white stuff! It’s considered a winter wonderland!

Bogotá, Columbia, has been slowly but surely improving its international reputation, by becoming a centre of social and political thought, art and culture. While its issues with pollution and traffic remain, new shops, bars and restaurants are making those flaws less noticeable. Enjoy the galleries, the famous coffee, and the cocktail bars. Cocktail bars are really thriving in Bogotá right now, as mixology has really taken off! If you want to enjoy nature, you’re not far from the mountains – or take a stroll through the many parks and gardens.

There’s a plane at Hamilton’s John C. Munro International Airport that may look like any other cargo plane, but a quick glance inside will prove that it’s no ordinary 747-SP Jumbo. This gold-clade luxury plane has been stored in Hamilton since October as it waits for a new owner. This particular plane for sale was once owned by the Royal Family of Qatar. It was them who outfitted it with its luxury finishes in the early 1990s. While the décor is dated, it’s still a unique aircraft to own…if you have $6 million or more to spend. In mid-March, the plane will fly to Miami for some major renovations that the current owner hopes will improve its chances of selling.

Most of the time when Canadian plans their vacations they go into it with feelings of optimism, not thinking about potential emergencies. While you shouldn’t be paranoid of travel, it is important to know what to do when you’re in a foreign nation and there’s an emergency. There’s actually a free service that Canadians can use to “check in” when abroad, so that you can receive alerts of any emergencies in the country you’re visiting or be notified if there is a personal emergency back home. This also helps if you are caught up in natural disaster or civil unrest. It’s also important that you have access to consular services from where you are going. You should also purchase travel insurance to cover you while you’re away.

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